IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i4p2355-d753037.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Future of Food: Domestication and Commercialization of Indigenous Food Crops in Africa over the Third Decade (2012–2021)

Author

Listed:
  • Roger R. B. Leakey

    (International Tree Foundation, 106-108 Cowley Road, Oxford OX4 1JE, UK)

  • Marie-Louise Tientcheu Avana

    (African Forest Forum, World Agroforestry Centre, United Nations Avenue, Nairobi P.O. Box 30677-00100, Kenya)

  • Nyong Princely Awazi

    (Department of Forestry and Wildlife Technology, College of Technology, The University of Bamenda, Bamenda P.O. Box 39, Cameroon)

  • Achille E. Assogbadjo

    (Laboratory of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou 05 BP 1752, Benin)

  • Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi

    (Crop Science, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3201, South Africa
    International Water Management Institute (IWMI-GH), West Africa Office, PMB CT 112 Cantonments, Accra GA015, Ghana)

  • Prasad S. Hendre

    (World Agroforestry Centre, Nairobi P.O. Box 30677-00100, Kenya)

  • Ann Degrande

    (World Agroforestry Centre, Yaoundé P.O. Box 16317, Cameroon)

  • Sithabile Hlahla

    (Crop Science, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3201, South Africa)

  • Leonard Manda

    (Laboratory of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou 05 BP 1752, Benin)

Abstract

This paper follows the transition from ethnobotany to a deeper scientific understanding of the food and medicinal properties of African agroforestry tree products as inputs into the start of domestication activities. It progresses on to the integration of these indigenous trees as new crops within diversified farming systems for multiple social, economic and environmental benefits. From its advent in the 1990s, the domestication of indigenous food and non-food tree species has become a global programme with a strong African focus. This review of progress in the third decade is restricted to progress in Africa, where multi-disciplinary research on over 59 species has been reported in 759 research papers in 318 science publications by scientists from over 833 research teams in 70 countries around the world (532 in Africa). The review spans 23 research topics presenting the recent research literature for tree species of high priority across the continent, as well as that in each of the four main ecological regions: the humid zone of West and Central Africa; the Sahel and North Africa; the East African highlands and drylands; and the woody savannas of Southern Africa. The main areas of growth have been the nutritional/medicinal value of non-timber forest products; the evaluation of the state of natural resources and their importance to local people; and the characterization of useful traits. However, the testing of putative cultivars; the implementation of participatory principles; the protection of traditional knowledge and intellectual property rights; and the selection of elite trees and ideotypes remain under-researched. To the probable detriment of the upscaling and impact in tropical agriculture, there has been, at the international level, a move away from decentralized, community-based tree domestication towards a laboratory-based, centralized approach. However, the rapid uptake of research by university departments and national agricultural research centres in Africa indicates a recognition of the importance of the indigenous crops for both the livelihoods of rural communities and the revitalization and enhanced outputs from agriculture in Africa, especially in West Africa. Thus, on a continental scale, there has been an uptake of research with policy relevance for the integration of indigenous trees in agroecosystems and their importance for the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. To progress this in the fourth decade, there will need to be a dedicated Centre in Africa to test and develop cultivars of indigenous crops. Finally, this review underpins a holistic approach to mitigating climate change, as well as other big global issues such as hunger, poverty and loss of wildlife habitat by reaping the benefits, or ‘profits’, from investment in the five forms of Capital, described as ‘land maxing’. However, policy and decision makers are not yet recognizing the potential for holistic and transformational adoption of these new indigenous food crop opportunities for African agriculture. Is ‘political will’ the missing sixth capital for sustainable development?

Suggested Citation

  • Roger R. B. Leakey & Marie-Louise Tientcheu Avana & Nyong Princely Awazi & Achille E. Assogbadjo & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi & Prasad S. Hendre & Ann Degrande & Sithabile Hlahla & Leonard Manda, 2022. "The Future of Food: Domestication and Commercialization of Indigenous Food Crops in Africa over the Third Decade (2012–2021)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-75, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:4:p:2355-:d:753037
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/4/2355/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/4/2355/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shackleton, Charlie M. & de Vos, Alta, 2022. "How many people globally actually use non-timber forest products?," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    2. Adam, Yahia Omar & Pretzsch, Jürgen & Pettenella, Davide, 2013. "Contribution of Non-Timber Forest Products livelihood strategies to rural development in drylands of Sudan: Potentials and failures," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 90-97.
    3. Joachim N. Binam & Frank Place & Arinloye A. Djalal & Antoine Kalinganire, 2017. "Effects of local institutions on the adoption of agroforestry innovations: evidence of farmer managed natural regeneration and its implications for rural livelihoods in the Sahel," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 5(1), pages 1-28, December.
    4. Jonathan P. Sheppard & Rafael Bohn Reckziegel & Lars Borrass & Paxie W. Chirwa & Claudio J. Cuaranhua & Sibylle K Hassler & Svenja Hoffmeister & Florian Kestel & Rebekka Maier & Mirko Mälicke & Christ, 2020. "Agroforestry: An Appropriate and Sustainable Response to a Changing Climate in Southern Africa?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-32, August.
    5. Mabhaudhi, T. & Chimonyo, V. G. P. & Hlahla, S. & Massawe, F. & Mayes, S. & Nhamo, Luxon & Modi, A. T., 2019. "Prospects of orphan crops in climate change," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 250(3):695-.
    6. Jack P. C. Kleijnen, 2015. "Response Surface Methodology," International Series in Operations Research & Management Science, in: Michael C Fu (ed.), Handbook of Simulation Optimization, edition 127, chapter 0, pages 81-104, Springer.
    7. Caspa, R.G. & Myambi, G.N. & Amang, Mbang J. & Mabe, M.N. & Nwegueh, A.B. & Foahom, B., 2020. "Socio-economic Benefits of Non-timber Forest Products to the AFCOE2M Communities of Southern Cameroon," Sustainable Agriculture Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 9(3).
    8. Tieguhong, Julius Chupezi & Ingram, Verina & Mala, William Armand & Ndoye, Ousseynou & Grouwels, Sophie, 2015. "How governance impacts non-timber forest product value chains in Cameroon," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 1-10.
    9. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, 2017. "Capitalize on African biodiversity," Nature, Nature, vol. 548(7665), pages 7-7, August.
    10. Merveille Koissi Savi & Raoul Noumonvi & Flora Josiane Chadaré & Kasso Daïnou & Valère Kolawolé Salako & Rodrigue Idohou & Achille Ephrem Assogbadjo & Romain Glèlè Kakaï, 2019. "Synergy between traditional knowledge of use and tree population structure for sustainability of Cola nitida (Vent.) Schott. & Endl in Benin (West Africa)," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 1357-1368, June.
    11. Stepha McMullin & Ken Njogu & Brendah Wekesa & Agnes Gachuiri & Erick Ngethe & Barbara Stadlmayr & Ramni Jamnadass & Katja Kehlenbeck, 2019. "Developing fruit tree portfolios that link agriculture more effectively with nutrition and health: a new approach for providing year-round micronutrients to smallholder farmers," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 11(6), pages 1355-1372, December.
    12. Tata Ngome, Precillia I. & Shackleton, Charlie & Degrande, Ann & Nossi, Eric Joel & Ngome, Francis, 2019. "Assessing household food insecurity experience in the context of deforestation in Cameroon," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 57-65.
    13. Bannor, Richard Kwasi & Ros-Tonen, Mirjam A.F. & Mensah, Princess Ophelia & Derkyi, Mercy & Nassah, Valerie Fumey, 2021. "Entrepreneurial behaviour among non-timber forest product-growing farmers in Ghana: An analysis in support of a reforestation policy," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    14. Foundjem-Tita, Divine & Speelman, Stijn & D'Haese, Marijke & Degrande, Ann & Van Huylenbroeck, Guido & Van Damme, Patrick & Tchoundjeu, Zac, 2014. "A tale of transaction costs and forest law compliance: Trade permits for Non Timber Forests Products in Cameroon," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 132-142.
    15. Foundjem-Tita, Divine & D’Haese, Marijke & Speelman, Stjin & Degrande, Ann & Gyau, Amos & Van Damme, Patrick & Tchoundjeu, Zac & Van Huylenbroeck, Guido, 2014. "Would strictly enforced forestry regulations affect farmers’ stated intentions to plant indigenous fruits trees? Insights from Cameroon," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(P1), pages 95-106.
    16. Razafindratsima, Onja H. & Kamoto, Judith F.M. & Sills, Erin O. & Mutta, Doris N. & Song, Conghe & Kabwe, Gillian & Castle, Sarah E. & Kristjanson, Patricia M. & Ryan, Casey M. & Brockhaus, Maria & Su, 2021. "Reviewing the evidence on the roles of forests and tree-based systems in poverty dynamics," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    17. A.E. Assogbadjo & R. Idohou & F.J. Chadare & V.K. Salako & C.A.M.S. Djagoun & G. Akouehou & J. Mbairamadji, 2017. "Diversity and prioritization of non timber forest products for economic valuation in Benin (West Africa)," African Journal of Rural Development (AFJRD), AFrican Journal of Rural Development (AFJRD), vol. 2(1), March.
    18. Roger R. B. Leakey & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi & Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, 2021. "African Lives Matter: Wild Food Plants Matter for Livelihoods, Justice, and the Environment—A Policy Brief for Agricultural Reform and New Crops," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-18, June.
    19. Julia Bello-Bravo & Peter N. Lovett & Barry R. Pittendrigh, 2015. "The Evolution of Shea Butter's "Paradox of paradoxa" and the Potential Opportunity for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to Improve Quality, Market Access and Women's Livelihood," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(5), pages 1-21, May.
    20. Ingram, Verina & Ewane, Marcus & Ndumbe, Louis Njie & Awono, Abdon, 2017. "Challenges to governing sustainable forest food: Irvingia spp. from southern Cameroon," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 29-37.
    21. BASSEY ETOWA, Egbe & OJOGU, Osim Eyam & ODUNLAMI, Samuel Sunday, 2015. "Leveraging Rural Livelihoods With Forest Conservation In Nigeria: The Role Of Non-Timber Forest Products," Review of Agricultural and Applied Economics (RAAE), Faculty of Economics and Management, Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra, vol. 18(1), pages 1-10, March.
    22. Lauren Q. Sneyd, 2013. "Wild Food, Prices, Diets and Development: Sustainability and Food Security in Urban Cameroon," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(11), pages 1-32, November.
    23. Food and Agriculture Organization, 2013. "The State of Food and Agriculture, 2013," Working Papers id:5511, eSocialSciences.
    24. C. Hall & J. I. Macdiarmid & R. B. Matthews & P. Smith & S. F. Hubbard & T. P. Dawson, 2019. "The relationship between forest cover and diet quality: a case study of rural southern Malawi," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 11(3), pages 635-650, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Phemelo Tamasiga & Helen Onyeaka & Adenike Akinsemolu & Malebogo Bakwena, 2023. "The Inter-Relationship between Climate Change, Inequality, Poverty and Food Security in Africa: A Bibliometric Review and Content Analysis Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-35, March.
    2. Adam Płachciak & Jakub Marcinkowski, 2022. "Humanitarian Assistance in G5 Sahel: Social Sustainability Context of Macrologistics Potential," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-25, July.
    3. Zoliswa Mbhele & Godfrey Elijah Zharare & Clement Zimudzi & Nontuthuko Rosemary Ntuli, 2022. "Indigenous Knowledge on the Uses and Morphological Variation among Strychnos spinosa Lam. at Oyemeni Area, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-20, May.
    4. Nomfundo Shelembe & Simphiwe Innocentia Hlatshwayo & Albert Modi & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi & Mjabuliseni Simon Cloapas Ngidi, 2024. "The Association of Socio-Economic Factors and Indigenous Crops on the Food Security Status of Farming Households in KwaZulu-Natal Province," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-18, March.
    5. Dieu-donné N’tambwe Nghonda & Héritier Khoji Muteya & Apollinaire Biloso Moyene & François Malaisse & Yannick Useni Sikuzani & Wilfried Masengo Kalenga & Jan Bogaert, 2023. "Socio-Economic Value and Availability of Plant-Based Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) within the Charcoal Production Basin of the City of Lubumbashi (DR Congo)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-20, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nkemnyi, Mbunya Francis & De Herdt, Tom & Chuyong, George B. & Vanwing, Tom, 2016. "Reconstituting the role of indigenous structures in protected forest management in Cameroon," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 45-51.
    2. Meinhold, Kathrin & Dumenu, William Kwadwo & Darr, Dietrich, 2022. "Connecting rural non-timber forest product collectors to global markets: The case of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.)," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    3. Tegegne, Yitagesu T. & Ramcilovic-Suominen, Sabaheta & FOBISSIE, KALAME & Visseren-Hamakers, Ingrid J. & Lindner, Marcus & Kanninen, Markku, 2017. "Synergies among social safeguards in FLEGT and REDD+ in Cameroon," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 1-11.
    4. Riyong Kim Bakkegaard & Martin Reinhardt Nielsen & Bo Jellesmark Thorsen, 2017. "Household determinants of bushmeat and eru (Gnetum africanum) harvesting for cash in the Democratic Republic of Congo," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1425-1443, August.
    5. Yifan Wang & He Li & Rong Zhao, 2022. "The Role of Forestry-Based Policies in Alleviating Relative Poverty in the Rocky Desertification Area in Southwest China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-14, November.
    6. Harbi, Jun & Erbaugh, James Thomas & Sidiq, Mohammad & Haasler, Berthold & Nurrochmat, Dodik Ridho, 2018. "Making a bridge between livelihoods and forest conservation: Lessons from non timber forest products' utilization in South Sumatera, Indonesia," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 1-10.
    7. Olumeh, Dennis Etemesi & Mithöfer, Dagmar, 2023. "Gender gaps in the collection and marketing of an underutilized plant species – Baobab in Malawi," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    8. Chu, Long & Quentin Grafton, R. & Keenan, Rodney, 2019. "Increasing Conservation Efficiency While Maintaining Distributive Goals With the Payment for Environmental Services," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 202-210.
    9. Lars Christian Gansel & David R Plew & Per Christian Endresen & Anna Ivanova Olsen & Ekrem Misimi & Jana Guenther & Østen Jensen, 2015. "Drag of Clean and Fouled Net Panels – Measurements and Parameterization of Fouling," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(7), pages 1-17, July.
    10. Shen-Tsu Wang, 2016. "Integrating grey sequencing with the genetic algorithm--immune algorithm to optimise touch panel cover glass polishing process parameter design," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(16), pages 4882-4893, August.
    11. Yek, Peter Nai Yuh & Cheng, Yoke Wang & Liew, Rock Keey & Wan Mahari, Wan Adibah & Ong, Hwai Chyuan & Chen, Wei-Hsin & Peng, Wanxi & Park, Young-Kwon & Sonne, Christian & Kong, Sieng Huat & Tabatabaei, 2021. "Progress in the torrefaction technology for upgrading oil palm wastes to energy-dense biochar: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    12. Qin, Caiyan & Kim, Joong Bae & Lee, Bong Jae, 2019. "Performance analysis of a direct-absorption parabolic-trough solar collector using plasmonic nanofluids," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 24-33.
    13. Gómez, Miguel I. & Ricketts, Katie D., 2013. "Food value chain transformations in developing countries: Selected hypotheses on nutritional implications," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 139-150.
    14. Kaushik, Lav Kumar & Muthukumar, P., 2020. "Thermal and economic performance assessments of waste cooking oil /kerosene blend operated pressure cook-stove with porous radiant burner," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    15. Yaman, Hayri & Yesilyurt, Murat Kadir & Uslu, Samet, 2022. "Simultaneous optimization of multiple engine parameters of a 1-heptanol / gasoline fuel blends operated a port-fuel injection spark-ignition engine using response surface methodology approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PC).
    16. Visva Bharati Barua & Mariya Munir, 2021. "A Review on Synchronous Microalgal Lipid Enhancement and Wastewater Treatment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-20, November.
    17. Ramos, Ana & Monteiro, Eliseu & Rouboa, Abel, 2019. "Numerical approaches and comprehensive models for gasification process: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 188-206.
    18. G. Yoganandan & Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman & M. Vasan & Abdelrhman Meero, 2022. "Evaluating agripreneurs’ satisfaction: exploring the effect of demographics and emporographics," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-22, December.
    19. D. M. D. Rasika & Janak K. Vidanarachchi & Selma F. Luiz & Denise Rosane Perdomo Azeredo & Adriano G. Cruz & Chaminda Senaka Ranadheera, 2021. "Probiotic Delivery through Non-Dairy Plant-Based Food Matrices," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-23, June.
    20. M'Arimi, M.M. & Mecha, C.A. & Kiprop, A.K. & Ramkat, R., 2020. "Recent trends in applications of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in bioenergy production: Review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:4:p:2355-:d:753037. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.